National

Delta moves goalposts on COVID-19 herd immunity

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Oct, 2021 12:39 PM

OTTAWA - Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer, says the Delta variant is moving the goalposts on the rate of vaccination to reach herd immunity from COVID-19.

Tam has previously said she would like to see all age groups at least 80 per cent fully vaccinated as soon as possible to fight the surge in COVID-19 cases.

She says today the very contagious Delta variant demands even higher vaccination rates to provide community protection from the virus.

Tam suggests vaccination coverage may now need to be 80 per cent for the whole population, as opposed to just those who qualify for the vaccine.

The magic number will be different for each community based on how many people in the area have already contracted the virus and the density of the population.

Tam says Canada should aim for the highest number of vaccinated people possible.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

UPDATE: Surrey RCMP say 14 year old Arnav Naphar of Surrey found safe and sound

Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing young male. Arnav Naphar was last seen at 06:15 PM on May 04, 2020 in the 6500 block of 138 Street in Surrey. He has not been seen or heard from since.

UPDATE: Surrey RCMP say 14 year old Arnav Naphar of Surrey found safe and sound

Federal government earmarking $77M to keep food-processing industry safe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday more than $77 million to help keep workers in the food-processing industry safe. The news comes as a Cargill meat-packing plant in High River, Alta., south of Calgary, reopened Monday after a two-week shutdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak. More than 900 of its 2,000 workers have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Federal government earmarking $77M to keep food-processing industry safe

Federal scientists predict high wildfire risk across Western Canada

Federal scientists are predicting a higher than average wildfire hazard for almost the entire country this summer. Their annual forecast says the risk will be highest in early summer in Western Canada.

Federal scientists predict high wildfire risk across Western Canada

Americans trust Canadians more than they trust themselves, poll suggests

A new online poll suggests COVID-19 has damaged the trust Canadians have in their American neighbours, while U.S. residents have more faith in their northern counterparts than they do in themselves. The poll from Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies finds only 34 per cent of respondents expressed trust in Americans, compared with 58 per cent from a similar survey in November of last year.

Americans trust Canadians more than they trust themselves, poll suggests

PM deflects questions about military's delayed confirmation of helicopter crash

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau deflected questions Tuesday about why it took more than 12 hours for the Canadian Armed Forces to confirm a military helicopter had crashed and when he found out that horrified crew members on board a Halifax-class frigate had watched it go down.

PM deflects questions about military's delayed confirmation of helicopter crash

Scientists concerned focus on COVID-19 disrupting regular health research funds

Canada's health research granting agency has postponed its usual funding competition due to COVID-19, sparking concern the lack of money could disrupt regular health research. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research put off its regular $275 million competition this spring to focus on delivering federal grants related to the novel coronavirus.